Electric block-signal system.



R. V. COLLINS.

ELECIRIC BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I. IBIS.

1,286,946. Patented Dec. 10. 1918.

4 SHEETSSHE[T l.

lnvenfop Fioy V. CoHms.

by mmkfmwzt Artys.

n-r "mm "III: on; mama. Ilsunm'un, n c

R. V. COLLINS.

ELECTRIC BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION HLED FEB. 7. I916.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

4 SHEETSSHEET Z.

lnventor. Roy V. CoHins by M Maw ma ms mus a. mamumn. Imam-an. l c

R. v. COLLINS.

uzcrmc amcx smm svsram.

APPLICATION HLEU FEB. l9l6. 1,286,946, Patentod Dec. 10, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

InvenTor. Roy V. CoHms. byM'W kzm a f ATTys.

R. V. COLLINS.

ELECTRIC BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION man HP. 1. l9|6.

1 ,286 ,916. Patentd Dec. 10, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

i s 4 \Y lnvenror.

' Roy V. Collins.

YWMdrW ATTys.

m: norms run to momumo. \vnsnmnmn. a c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BOY V. COLLINS, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE WEST NEWTONCOMPANY, OF WEST NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA-CHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC BLOCK-SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

Application filed February 7, 1916. Serial No. 76,883.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROY V. CoLLINs, a citizen of the United States,residin at Newton, county of'Middlesex, State ofassachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement in Electric Block-Signal Systems, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is aspecification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to electric block signal systems such as are usedon electric railways for controlling traflic, and the principal objectof the invention is to provide a novel electric block si nal system ofthe counting-in and counting-out variety which is constructed to givesignal indications in accordance with the standard practice in use onsteam railways, that is, to give a proceed signal either in the form ofa green light or a semaphore arm in vertical position to a car enteringthe block when the block is clear; to ive a roceed with caution signaleither 1n the orm of a yellow light or a partially-raised semaphore armto a car entering a block when there is another car in the blockproceeding in the same direction; and to give a stop siglnal either inthe form of a red light or a orizontal semaphore arm to a car enteringthe block when the traflic rules require that said car should not enterthe block.

In most block signal systems for electric railways of the so-calledcounting-in and counting-out type, that is, systems that registersuccessive cars into a block and then register or count said cars out ofthe block as they leave the block, some means are provided for givingindication to the motorman as he enters the block that he has beenproperly registered or counted in. This is usually done by causing thesignal to give some momentary indication at the time that the countingdevice operates, such, for instance, as the flash of a signal light, orthe momentary movement of a semaphore arm. In order that the motors-nanmayt this indication, however, it is necessary r him to keep a closewatch on the; signal as he is entering the block, for the signal has thesame appearance both before and after the indication, and the only waythat the motorman can determine whether he has been counted in orregistered in the block properly is by noting the momentary indication.

This is sometimes diflicult to do because if the motormans attentionhappens to be diverted at the instant that the indication is given sothat he will not see this indication, he will not be able to tell fromthe signal itself whether or not he has been properly counted in.

My invention provides a signal system in which the signal gives adifferent indication after a car has been counted into the block than itdoes prior to that time, and the indication that is given conforms tothe standard railway signal practice. The signal guarding the blocknormally gives the stop indication, and as the car enters the block, ifit is properly counted in, the signal will give either a proceed or aproceed with caution indication, depending on Whether the block ahead isclear or is already occupied by another car proceeding in the samedirection, but the change in the signal from the stop indication to theproceed or proceed with caution indication will indicate to the motormanthat he has been properly counted into the block. If the counting devicedoes not properly operate to register the car into the block, then thesignal guarding the block will maintain its stop indication, thusshowing to the motorman that his car has not been counted into theblock. He will then back out of the block and make another entry. Withmy signal, the motorman simply has to follow the indication which thesignal gives, that is, to proceed when the signal gives a proceedindication, to proceed cautiously when the sig al 'ves the roceed withcaution indi gl P cation, and to stop when the signal gives the stopindication, and he does not have to watch for any special indication toknow Whether his car is counted into oris counted out of the blockproperly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signal system soconstructed that the signals will not be disturbed or changed by anycrossed wires, broken wires or abnormal occurrence that would throwcurrent onto or take it off from the line wires of the signal system,but will only be changed or operated by cars entering or leaving the canbe set only by the closing of two contacts in rapid succession and in apredetermined sequence and arranging the system 9 so that a car enteringor leaving the block will close the contacts in this predeterminedmanner. There is practically no possibility that the circuits could beclosed in just this predetermined manner by the occurrence of anyabnormal condition, such as crossed wires, broken wires, etc., and asthe signals of the s stem can only be set or restored by the closing ofthe two circuits in this predetermined manner, there is no danger thatthe signal system will be upset or interfered with by the occurrence ofany abnormal conditions.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved block signalsystem which is so constructed that when the last one of a predeterminednumber of cars have entered the block successively, all of the signalsguarding the'block will display the stop indication and will maintainsuch indication until some of the cars have left the block; to providean improved block signal system which is so constructed that if amotorman overruns a stop signal and enters the block, he will receive aproper indication to indicate that his car was registered into the blockand when he backs out of the block, the signals will be returned to thecondition in which they were before he overran the signal; to provide ablock signal system which is so constructed that if a car accidentallyoverruns a stop signal set against it, but fails to become registeredinto the block in so doing, it will also fail to register out of theblock when it backs out of the block; to provide a block signal systemwhich is extremely flexible in its operation and will give properprotection to the cars in the block under any abnormal conditions whichmay arise, and otherwise to improve block signal systems, all as will bemore fully hereinafter set forth.

In order to give an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated inthe drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described,after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appendedclaims.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a diagram view of the wiring of the signalbox at one end of a block;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the wiring of the signal box at theopposite end of the block, it being understood, that Figs. 1 and 2constitute together the system pro testing one block;

Fig. '3 is an enlarged view of one of the magnets used for operating thesignal;

Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12 mediaram views showing some of thedifferent inications that are given as the cars proceed intoand throughthe block;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the counting i'n and counting out wheelsof the careounting mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a diagram view of a modification hereinafter referred to.

I have herein shown my system as it might be installed for protecting ablock constituted by a length of single track having a turn-out at eachend, although with proper modifications the system could be applied toany block system.

1 indicates the trolley wire of the block which extends between twoturn-outs 2 and 3, the turn-out 2 having the two branch trolley wires 4and 5, and the turn-out 3 having the two branch trolley wires 6 and 7.The signal herein illustrated is arranged to use lamps for giving thesignal indication, a green light constituting the proceed" signal, ayellow light constituting the proceed with caution signal, and a redlight constituting the stop signal, this being in accordance withstandard railway signal practice. There is a signal mecha nism at eachend of the block as usual in block signal systems, and these signalmechanisms are connected by two line wires 8 and 9, i being the signalline wire and 9 the signal-restoring line wire.

The signal mechanisms at each end of the block comprise two signals,those at one end of the block being designated 10 and 80 respectively,and those at the other end of the block being designated 11 and 80. Thetwo signals 80 are herein shown as two-light signals, each comprisingthe red light 85 and the yellow light 7 9. The signals 10 and 11 areshown as three-light signals, each conr prising the green light 12, theyellow light 13 and the red light 14, although said signals 10 and 11might be two-light signals without departing from the invention. Thesignals 10 and 11 normally show the red light, thus giving the stopindication,

while the two signals 80 normally show the yellow light, thus giving theproceed with caution indication. Each signal 80 is so situated that acar entering the block will pass it before it has fully entered theblock and before it passes the signal 10 or 11. These signals 80 are forthe purpose of indieating to a motorman of a car approaching the blockwhether or not he is to enter the block and the signals 10 and 11 arefor the purpose of indicatin to the motorman of a car entering the blocthat his car has been properly registered into the block, and also forthe purpose of displaying a stop indication when a car has entered theblock thereby to give said car protection. As stated above, the signals80 normally show the yellow light, while the signals 10 and 11' show thered light. As a car approaches the block from either end it will passthe signal 80 if the latter shows the yellow light, thus giving theproceed with caution indication, and as it proceeds the light in thesignal 10 or 11 will be changed from red to green if there is no car inthe block, and will be changed to yellow if there is a car already inthe block traveling in the same direction. When the motorman reaches thesignal 11 he observes whether it shows a green or a yellow light, and ifit shows either of these lights rather than a red light. he knows thathis car has been counted into the block and he then proceeds past thesignal 10 or 11. If, however, the signal v10 or 11 continues to show ared light only, he knows that his car has not been properly counted intothe block. It is not necessary for the motor-man to see either signal 10or 11 change from the red to the green or the yellow light. It is simplynecessary for him to observe whether it shows a. green. a yellow or ared light and to act accordingly.

If the signal 10 or 11 shows green or yellow. the motorman will proceedinto the block past said signal, and as he does so, said signal willchange to red again thereby giving proper protection. The counting ofthe cars into and out of the block is performed by a counting-in andcounting-out mechanism which will now be described, it being understoodthat the mechanisms at the two ends of the blocks are similar. so that adescription of one will sufiic for both. This mechanism comprises acounting-in wheel 15 mounted on a shaft 16 and a counting-out wheel 17also mounted on said shaft. The counting-in wheel is advanced one stepforward each time that a car enters the block by means of asignal-setting magnet 18. The counting-out wheel 17 is also advanced onestep each time that a car leaves the block at the opposite end by meansof a. signalrestoring magnet 19. In Figs. 1 and 2 this countingmechanism is shown partly in ele vation and partly in plan view so as tobetter illustrate it. The counting-in and counting-out wheels 15 and 17are shown in side view adjacent the magnets 18 and 19 and are also shownin plan view so as to illustrate the operation of the stepped cam 20 andthe contact member 23.

The counting-in Wheel 15 is provided on its face with a stepped cam 20which is engaged by a roll 21 carried by the countingout wheel. 17. Saidcounting-out wheel 17 is slidably mounted on the shaft 16 and is actedupon by a spring 22 which keeps the roll 21 in contact with the cam 20or with the face of the wheel 15. This counting-out wheel 17 controlsthe position of a. contact member 23 which in turn controls the circuitsfor the lamps 12, 13 and 14 of the signal 10, all as will be more fullyhereinafter referred to.

The signal-setting magnet 18 is actuated to step the counting-in wheelforward one step as the trolley of a car is passing along the branchtrolley wire t preparatory to entering the blo-k 1. and thesignal'restoringmagnot 19 is energized to step the signal-restoringwheel 17 forward one step when the car leaves the block along the branchtrolley 6. The branch trolley wires 4 and 5 have contactors 24 and 25associated therewith, and the branch trolley wires 6 and 7 havecontactors 26 and 27 associated therewith. The trolley wire 1 also hascontactors 28 and 29 associated therewith at the respective ends andadjacent the signals 10 and 11. These contactors will be more fullyhereinafter described.

W'hen the block is free of cars, the counting-in and. counting-outwheels have the relative position shown in Fig. 1. As the trolley passesalong the trolley wire 4 going to the right, it actuates a contactor 24thereby to energize the signal-setting magnet 18, and this results instepping the signal-setting wheel 15 at the left end of the blockforward one step. This brings the second or intermediate step of thestepped cam 20 opposite the roll 21, and the spring 22 then forces thecounting-out wheel 17 longitudinally of the shaft 16 as far as thesecond step of the stepped cam. 20 will permit. This results in movingthe contact member into its intermediate position, in which circuitconnections are made that bring the green light 12 of signal 10 into thecircuit so that the motorman will then get a proceed signal. and he willthen enter the block. As he passes the contactor 28 the green light 12will be extinguished and the red light 14 of signal 10 will be lighted.thus giving his car proper protection. It will be understood, of course,that the red light is maintained at the opposite end of the block. Asthe car leaves the block over the branch trolley wire 6. the trolleythereof will actuate the contactor 27 which will result in actuating therestoring magnet 19 at the left or entering end of the. block. thusadvancing the restoring wheel 17 and bringing the wheels 15 and 17 backinto their initial relative position. This results in restoring thesignals to their normal condition. If, however. a second car starts toenter the block from the ieft while the first car is stillin the block.then when the secand car passes the contactor 24, the magnet 18 will beenergized to step the counting-in whee-l forward a second Step whichwill carry the stepped cam 20 out from engagement with the roll 21 andallow the countingout wheel 17 to move longitudinally of the shaft 16 tobring the roll into contact with the face of the wheel 15. This willbring the contact 23 into the lower dotted line position Fig. 1 and willclose circuit connections leading to the yellow lamp 13 so that thesecond car will have a proceed with cantion signal displayed. Themotormen will then enter the block, but with the knowledge that anothercar is in the block ahead of him traveling in the same direction. Whenthe second car passes the contactor 28 the circuit connections will bemade which will show the red lamp 14 at the signal 10, thus giving thesecond car proper protection. lVhen a third or fourth succeeding carenters the block, before the first car leaves the block at the oppositeend, said third or fourth car will actuate the cont-actor 24, thusstepping the counting-in wheel 15 forward, and this operation will causethe signal 10 to display a yellow light which will be changed to redwhen said succeeding car passes the contact '28. As the cars leave theblock, the counting-out wheel 17 at the entering end of the block willbe advanced one step for each car so that the signal will be restored toits normal condition when the cars have all passed out of the block. Themotorman, therefore, merely notes whether his signal 10 gives a proceedindication. a. proceed with caution indication or a stop indication, andhe acts accordingly, and the change from the red or stop indication toeither the proceed or the proceed with caution indication, indicatesthat the car has been properly counted into the block by actuating thecontactor 24.

The signal-setting and signal-restormg magnets 18 and 19 at each end ofthe block are so constructed that they will not be operative to step thesignal-setting or signalrestoring wheels forward except when theyreceive two current impulses in rapid succession, one of which is alight current and the other of which is a heavy current, and thecontactor that I employ and the circuit connections from the contactorto the magnets are such as to provide this light and then heavy currentin rapid succession whenever the contractor is actuated. Each contactorherein shown is similar to that illustrated and described in mycopending application Se. No. 61,493, filed November 15, 1915, and as noclaims are made herein to the contactor, I have shown it in diagramonly. The contactor 24 for controlling the signal-setting magnet 18comprises a contact arm 30 pivotally mounted at 31 to a standard 32carried by the trolley wire and constructed so that as the trolleypasses under the trolley wire it will cause the contact arm 30 to swingupwardly into the dotted line position. During this upward movement thecontact arm wipes by two contacts 33 and 34. The contact arm 30 iselectrically connected to the trolley wire and, therefore, when it movesupwardly past the contacts 33, 34 first the contact 33 and then thecontact 34 will be connected with the trolley wire. The contacts 33 and34 are both connected to a signal-setting magnet 18, the contact 33being connected by what I have called a preliminary circuit, and thecontact 34 being connected by What I have called a secondary circuit.The preliminary circuit has a greater resistance therein than thesecondary circuit so that when the preliminary and secondary circuitsare closed by the upward movement of the arm 30, the magnet 18 will besubjected to first a light and then a heavy current. The preliminarycircuit comprises the contact 33, wire 35, sectional resistance 36, wire37, counting-in wheel 15 which is connected to the drum 39 by thecontact pawl 38, wire 40, magnet 18 and wire 41 to the ground. Thesecondary circuit leading from the contact 34 comprises the wire 42,magnet 43, which will be presently described, wire 44, which connects tothe sectional resistance, a portion only of said resistance, wire 37counting-in wheel 15, drum 39, wires 40 and 41 to ground. As a result ofthese circuit connections when the arm 30 moves upwardly and engages thecontact 33. the preliminary circuit comprising wire 35, resistance 36,Wires 37, 40 and 41, is closed through the signal-setting magnet 18,which circuit includes all of the resistance 36, and almost immediatelythereafter, the secondary circuit is closed by the engagement of thecontact arm 30 with the contact 34, said secondary circuit includingonly a portion of the resistance 36: As a result, the magnet 18 issubjected momentarily to two successive current impulses, one of whichis light due to the closing of the preliminary circuit, and the other ofwhich is heavy due to the closing of the secondary circuit, Thesignal-setting magnet is designed so that it will only operate to stepthe counting-in wheel 15 forward when it receives these two currentimpulses in rapid succession, and in this predetermined sequence, thatis, first a light and immediately after a heavy current. Said magnet isprovided with a relatively-large main armature 46 and a relatively-smallauxiliary armature 45, the auxiliary armature 45 being pivoted to thebracket 47 at 48. and the main armature 46 being pivoted thereto at 49.The bracket 47 also has pivoted thereto at 50 a locking member 51 whichnormally occupies a position to lock the armature 46 from being movedupwardly when the magnet 18 is energized. This locking member 51 carriesa projection or finger 52 adapted to he engaged by the tail 53 of thesmall auxiliary armature 45 so that if the main large armature 46remains at rest and the small armature 45 is attracted toward themagnet, the tail 53 of said armature will engage the projection 52 andswing the locking member 51 backwardly out of engagement with the tailof the large armature 46, as seen in Fig. 3. The large armature is thusfree to be moved upward only during the time interval when the lockingmember 51 is swung backwardly and before said member swings forwardlyagain into its normal position. These armatures 45 and 46 of the magnet18 are so designed that the smaller armature only will be attracted whenthe magnet 18 is energized from the lighter current in the primarycircuit, while the larger armature will be attracted when the magnet 18is energized from the heavy current in the secondary circuit. Themovement of the small armature will cause the locking member 51 to movebackwardly, as above described, and the contactor is so designed thatthe contact arm 30 will move onto the contact 34, thus closing thesecondary circuit just When the locking member 51 has been thrownbackwardly to unlock the main armature 46. The magnet 18 thus receivesits heavy current impulse when the armature 46 is unlocked so that saidarmature will be moved upwardly, and in so doing will step the wheel 15forward one step. For this purpose, said main armature 46 has a finger222 pivoted thereto which coiiperates with the teeth 223 of the wheel 15to move said wheel forward when the armature is raised. The wheel 15 isprevented from overrunning partly by the spring-pressed roll 224 andpartly by the coiiperation of the finger 222 with the stop 225. The roll224 holds the wheel from backward movement and the finger 222 is pivotedto the armature so as to permit it to click over the teeth 223 when thearmature 46 drops. When the armature 46 has been raised, it will beautomatically locked by the gravity lock 54 which is controlled by anunlocking magnet 55.

As stated above, the magnet 18 is so constructed that it will beoperative only when it is energized first by a comparatively lightcurrent and then immediately thereafter by a comparatively heavycurrent. If more than the prescribed time interval elapses between thelight and the heavy current impulses, the lock 51 will have time toswing back into locking osition before the heavy current and thus thearmature will not be operated.

The contactor 24 is so constructed that the contact arm 30 will moveupwardly across the contacts 33, 34 at the same speed, regardless of thespeed of the car, all as described in my co-pending application. Se. No.61,493, and, therefore, the magnet 18 will receive the relatively-lightand then relatively-heavy current in the proper time interval regardlessof the'speed of the trolley car.

The magnet 18 is so constructed that it will not respond when itreceives a rela-' tively-heavy currentonly without the preliminaryrelativelylight current immediately preceding it. relativelysmallarmature 45willlbe satu- This is so because the rated when the magnet issubjected to the relatively-light charge and hence when therelatively-heavy current is used without the preceding relatively-lightcurrent, a sufficient proportion of the magnet flux passes aroundthrough the lock 51 and tail of the armature 46 to hold these partstogether with suflicient force to prevent the look from being thrownback by the auxiliary armature 45 and said auxiliary armature,therefore, will not be effective to operate the lock 51 and unlock themain armature.

Having referred briefly to the manner in which the signal operates, Iwill now refer more in detail to the various circuits which areillustrated for giving the signal indication.

57 is a feed Wire connected to the trolley at each end of the block.This feed wire has connected thereto a resistance 56 which is connectedby a wire 60 to contacts 61 that are closed by an insulated portionofthe contact lever 23 when the latter is in its normal position, one ofsaid contacts being connected to the ground at 62, these connectionsconstituting at each end of the block a normally-closed local circuit.The signal wire 8 is connected at each end to the resistance 56intermediate of its length, as shown at 86, said signal wire 8 havingtherein at each end a relay 560 which controls a plurality of armatures347, 75 and 148. The circuit connections for the signal wire 8 are suchthat under normal. conditions the potentialsat the two points 86 are thesame and, therefore, no current will be flowing normally in the signalWire and the two relays 560 therein will be dee'nergized. The feed 57also has a wire 63 connected thereto which leads to a pair of contacts64 which are bridged byan' insulated portion of the contact lever 23when the latter is in its normal elevated position shown in F ig. 1,said contacts being connected by a wire 65 to a current regulator magnet58, said latter magnet being connected to the ground by a wire 59 havinga suitable resistance therein. The feed 57 also has connected theretothe circuits by which the lamps in signals 10 and 11 are operated. Thecircuit "which includes the red lamp 14" is as follows:

The resistance 67 which is connected to the wire 63 and forms part ofthe current regulator, wire 68, contacts 69 which are which are bridgedby the armature 77 of the magnet 18 when the latter is deenergized, wire78 which leads to the yellow lamp 79 of a two-lamp signal 80, wire 81,contacts which are closed by the armature 83 of the magnet 18 when thelatter is denergized, Wire 84 to the red light 14 of the signal 10 andthence to ground.

When there is no car in the block the signals will be displayed as seenin Fig. 4, and all the relays will be deenergized. \Vhen a carproceeding to the right actuates the contactor 24, the magnet 18 will beenergized, as above described, thereby to step the signal-setting wheel15 forward one step, the armatures controlled by said magnet 18 will beraised, and the contact lever 23 will be moved into its intermediateposition, as above described. These operations result in changing thecircuits to the signals 10 and 80 so as to cause the green lamp 12 to belighted in signal 10 and the red lamp 85 to be lighted in signal 80, asseen in Fig. 5. When the signal-setting Wheel 15 is stepped forward andthe contact member 23 is moved downward into its intermediate position,the contacts 61 and 64 are opened. At the same time the end of thecontact 23 engages the cam projection 87 on a light-changing contactmember 88, thereby forcing the contact to the right and closing thepairs of contacts 89, 90 and 91. The closing of the contacts 89 closes ashunt circuit 92 which has a small resistance 93 therein and isconnected to the signal wire at 86, this shunt circuit being grounded at62. The closing of this shunt circuit will cut out some of theresistance 56 so that the potential at the point 86 at the left-hand endof the block will be less than that at the right-hand end of the block,and consequently a current will flow from the feed wire 5 at theright-hand end of the block, through the signal wire 8 and shunt circuit92 to the ground at the left-hand end of the block. This results inenergizing the relays 560 in the signal wire, thereby causing theirarmatures to be raised.

The closing of the contacts 91 closes a circuit through the relay 72,thus causing it to be energized to raise its armatures. This circuitthus closed through the relay 72 is as follows:

Wire 95, connected to the wire 63, contacts 91, wire 96 connected to therelay 72 and leading to the wire which is con-- nected to .the groundthrough the regulating magnet 58.

Hence when the contactor has been actuated the magnets 18, 7 2 at theentering end of the block and both magnets 560 are energized, as seen inFig. 5. The energizing of the relays 560 and 72 at the right-hand end ofthe block and the locking of the signal-setting magnet 18 in itselevated position when the latter is energized changes the circuits soas to cause the green lamp 12 to be lighted in signal 10 and the redlamp 85 to be lighted in signal 80 when one car only has entered theblock and the contact member 23 is in its intermediate position. Thecircuits which operate the lights may be traced as follows:

Wire 57, wire 63, resistance 67, wire 68, contacts 190 which are nowclosed by the raised armature 7 5 of the relay 560, wire 91, contacts 98which are now closed by the raised armature 99 of the relay 72, wire100, contacts 101, which are now closed by the raised armature 83 of themagnet 18, wire 102 which leads to the red light 85 in the signal 80,wire 81, contacts 103 which are now bridged by the raised armature 104of the magnet 18, wire 105, contacts 90 whicn are closed by the contactmember 88, wire 106, to the green light 12 in signal 10 and thence toground.

At the opposite end of the block, the only change is that the relay 560has been ener gized thereby raising its armature, the relay 72 and thesignal-setting magnet 18 remaining deenergized. The raised armature ofthe relay 560 opens the circuit leading to the yellow lamp 79 of thesignal at the right-hand end of the block and closes the circuit leadingto the red lamp at the said end of the block, the circuit through thelamps being as follows:

Wire 57, wire 63, resistance 67, wire 68, contacts 190 which are closedby the raised armature 7 5, wire 94, contacts 107 which are closed bythe lowered armature 99, wire 108, contacts 109 that are closed by thelowered armature 110 of the magnet 18, wire 102 to the red lamp 85 atsignal 80, wire 81, contacts 82 which are closed by the armature 83 ofthe magnet 18, Wire 84 to the red lamp 1 1 and thence to ground. 0

Both signals at the right-hand end of the block will thus show red, andat the lefthand end of the block, the signal 80 will show red while thesignal 10 will show green, as seen in Fig. 5. This indicates to themotorman that he has been properly counted into the block. As the carentering the block passes the contactor 28, the locking magnet 55 isenergized, thereby to release the lock 54 and allow the armatures of thesignal-setting magnet 18 to drop. The dropping of the armature of thesignal-setting magnet 18 changes the circuits in the lamps of thesignals 10 and 80 so as to display a yellow lamp 79 at 80 and a red lamp14 at 10, as seen in Fig. 6, thus placing the system in condition for asecond car to follow the first car into the block. The circuits by whichthe operation of the contactor 28 results in energizing the lockingmagnet 55 are as follows:

The contactor 28 has the same construction as the eontactor 24, that is,it is provided with a Vertically-swinging contact lever 111 adapted toengage two contacts 112 assesses and 113 successively as the lever israised, said lever being given its vertical upward movement by a trolleywheel passing thereunder. The contact 112 is connected by a wire 114 tocontacts 115 which are closed by the armature 116 of the magnet 18 whenthe latter is denergized, said contacts being connected by a wire 119having a resistance 120 therein to a magnet 121, the latter beingconnected by wire 122 to the ground. The contact 113 is connected by awire 123 to the resistance 120. When the contact lever 111 movesupwardly it first engages contact 112, but this does not result inclosing any circuit because the armatures of the magnet 18 are raisedand the contacts 115 are opened. As the contact member 111 strikes thecontact 113, however, a current will be sent through wire 123 to thelock-releasing magnet 55, and thence to the groundthrough the wire 124,a portion of resistance 120, magnet 121, wire 122 and contacts 136 whichare closed by the main armature 137 of magnet 121. The lock-releasingmagnet is thus energized and the armature 40 is released, so that all ofthe armatures of the magnet 18 will fall. When these armatures drop intotheir lowered position, the contacts 74 and 82 are closed therebyrestoring the circuits to the signals 10 and 80 to their initialcondition so that the yellow lamp 79 of the signal 80 will be lightedand the red lamp 1 1 of signal 10 will be lighted.

The magnet 121 is similar in construction to'the magnet 18 in that ithas the auxiliary and main armatures 138 and 137, and the locking member238 for normally locking the main armature from movement, and in that itis necessary to energize it by first a comparatively-light and thenimmediately thereafter by a comparatively-heavy current in order tooperate the main armature. Consequently when said magnet is energized byclosing the circuit through contact'113 and receives a heavy charge, itwill not operate the armature 137 and the contacts 136 will,

therefore, remain closed.

If now a second car enters'the block while it is still occupied by thefirst car, the signalsetting magnet 18 will be energized, as abovedescribed, by the operation of the contactor 24, thereby stepping thesignal-setting wheel 15 forward a second step and placing the contactlever 23 in its lowered position.

The energizing of the contact 18 and the consequent raising of itsarmature-s, together with the placing of the arm 23 in its' lowercdposition results in changing circuits to the signals 10 and 80 So that ayellow light 13 will be exhibited at the signal 10 and a red light atsignal 80, as seen in Fig. 7. The motorman, therefore, receivesindication that his car has been properly counted into the block andalso receives indication that there is a car ahead of him in the blockby the fact that the yellow light 13 of the signal 10 is lighted insteadof the green light 12. This result is secured by the opening of thecontacts 90 and the closing of the contacts 126 by the contact lever 23in its lowered position. The cam projection 87 on the contact lever 88is so constructed that when the contact lever 23 is inits loweredposition the contact lever 83 is allowed to move to the left slightly,but not suiilciently to open the contacts 91 and 89. The contacts 90 arelocated slightly back of the contacts 89 and 91 so that in thisintermediate position of the contact lever 88- the contacts 90 are open,while the contacts 89 and 91 remain closed. With the contacts 90 openand the contacts 126 closed and with the signal-setting ma net 18energized and its armatures raised, t 1e circuits to the lights in thesignals -1O and will be as follows:

Feed wire 57, wire 63, resistance 67, wire 68, contacts 190, wire 94,contacts 98, wire 100, contacts 101, wire 102, red light85, wire 81,contacts 103, wire 105, wire 127, contacts 126, wire 128 to the yellowlight 13 in signal 10 and thence to ground. The change from the greenlight 12 of signal '10 which indicates proceed to the yellow light 13 ofsaid signal 10 which indicates proceed with caution is secured by thefact that when a second car enters the block which is already occupiedby another car, the counting-in device will place the contact lever 23in its lowest position and thus hold the light-changing contact 83 inits intermediate position, in which position it closes the ircuit to theyellow lamp 13 instead of to the green lamp 12. It will be noted thatthe green lamp 12 will belighted only when the light-changing contactmember 88 is in to enter an empty block. If a second car seeks to entertheblOck already occupied by "another car then the counting-in wheel 15will be moved forward a second step which will result in so placing thecontact members 23 and 83 as to cause the circuits to the yel low light13 to be closed, this bein accom- .plished by the roll 21 moving oif romthe second step of the cam 20 onto the face of the wheel 15.

When a car enters the block it is necessary that it should actuate boththe contactors 24 and 28 in order to place the signal in condition forthe second car-to enter the block. The operation of the contactor 24sets the signal and displays the red light in signal 80, and the greenor the yellow light in signal 10, and also causes the red lights to bedisplayed in both signals 10 and at the opposite end of the block. Theactuation of the contactor 28 unlocks the armatures of thesignal-setting magnet 18 so as to restore the lights in signals 10 and80 to their normal condition without disturbing th signals at theopposite end of the block.

When a car leaves the block, it is necessary that it should actuate thecontactors 29 and 26 successively in order to restore the signal to itsinitial position. The actuation of the contactor 29 closes a circuitconnecting the restoring circuit 9 with the contactor 26 so that whenthe contactor 26 is actuated a restoring impulse will be sent over therestoring circuit through the signalrestoring magnet 19 at the enteringend of the block thereby actuatin the latter to step thesignal-restoring whee 17 forward one step. This signal-restoring magnet19 is constructed similarly to the signal-setting magnet 18, that is, itis so designed that it will only be operated by first a light and then aheavy current, and the contactor 26 is designed to close in propersequence the circuits by which the light and heavy currents aredelivered to the restoring magnet 19. Both contactors 29 and 26 aresimilar to that above described, the contactor 29 having avertically-moving contact member 130 adapted to engage two contacts 131and 132 in succession as it is moved upwardlyby a passing trolley, andthe contactor 26 being provided with the vertically-moving contactmember 133 adapted to engage two contacts 134 and 135 in rapid sequencewhen said member is moved upwardly by a pass ing trolley. Both of thecontacts 131 and 132 of the contactor 29 are connected to the relay 121by connections similar to that described with reference to the contactor28 and the relay 121 at the left-hand end of the block. When, therefore,the contactor 29 is actuated there will first be a circuit establishedthrough contact 131, wire 11 1, at the right-hand end of the block,contacts which are closed by the armature 116, wire 119, resistance tothe relay 121, thence by wire 122 to contacts 136 which are closed bythe heavy armature 137 of the relay 121 and thence to ground. Thiscircult includes all of the resistance 120 which will cut the currentdown to that which is sufficient to raise the small armature 138 onlybut which is insufiicient to raise the large armature 137. As thecontact engages the contact 132, a current from the trolley wire will beestablished through wire 123, lock-releasing magnet 55, wire 124.- to aportion of the resistance 120, thence to relay 121, wire 122 andcontacts 136 to ground. Inasmuch as this circuit includes only a por- 65tion of the resistance 120, a heavy current will be delivered to therelay 121 which will be sufiicient to raise the armature 137 and thisheavy current will be sent through the relay immediately after the lightcurrent and just when the small armature 138 has thrown the lockingmember 238 backwardly out of operative position. The heav armature 137is thus raised thereby opening the contacts 136 and closing contacts139. The armature becomes automatically locked in this position by agravity lock 140 which is controlled by a lock-releasing magnet 43. Thearmature 137 is shown as provided with a spring contact 271 whichengages the contacts 136 when said armature is down. This spring contactis normally locked against the contacts 136 by means of a locking pawl272 which has a cam projection thereon situated to be engaged by the endof the armature 137 when the latter is raised. As a result, when thearmature 137 is unlocked and lifted, as above described, the contact 271will mamtain the parts 136 closed until said armature reaches the upperlimit of its movement, at which time the locking pawl 272 is releasedfrom the contact 271, thus opening the contacts 136, this occurring atthe time that the contacts 139 are closed. This clos ing of the contacts139 by the operation of the contactor 29 closes circuit connectionsbetween the contactor 26 and the restoring circuit so that when thetrolley passes contactor 26 first a light and then a heavy current willbe sent over the restoring line wire 9 to the signal-restoring magnet 19at the entering end of the block, thus restoring the signal. When thecontact 133 of the contactor 26 is moved upwardly and engages thecontact 13 1, a circuit will be formed in cluding contact 13-1, wire 35,a portion of resistance 36, wire 1 14, to contacts 139, wire 145, Wire146 to contacts 147 which are now bridged by the armature 148 of therelay 560, restoring line wire 9 to contacts 147 at the entering end ofthe block which are also closed by the armature 148, wire 146 torestoring magnet 19, wire 150 from the restoring magnet to the groundthrough contacts 151 which are closed by the armature 250 of theenergized relay 72. The circuit above outlined has most of theresistance 36 therein and will send through the restoring relay at theentering end of the block a current which is sufiicient to raise thesmall armature 251 thereof, but is insuflicient to raise the largearmature 152. When the contact 133 engages the contact 135, a circuitwill be established which will send a heavy current through therestoring magnet lUO backwardly. This circuit for the heavy currentcomprises contact 135, wire 42, lockreleasing magnet 43, wire 44 to theresistance 36, a portion only of said resistance, wire 144, contacts139, wire 145, wire 146, contacts 147, and restoring line wire 9 to therestoring relay magnet 19 at the left end of the block, as abovedescribed. This circuit leading from the contact 135 contains less ofthe resistance 36 than the circuit leading from the contact 134, andthus when the circuit is closed through the contact 135 a heaviercurrent is sent over the restoring line wire than when the circuit isclosed through the contact 134. When the restoring magnet 19 is thusenergized, the countlng-out wheel 17 is moved forward one step, and thisoperation will occur for each car that leaves the block. The closing ofthe abovementioned circuit through the lock-releasing magnet 43energizes the latter and unlocks the armature 137, allowing it to fallinto its normal position.

When all the cars have left the block the signal will be restored to itsinitial conditlon.

In the above description, I have referred to cars entering the blockfrom the left, Fig. 1. but this description will apply equally well tocars entering from the right.

My signal system is so arranged that it will operate in the same mannerwhether the car enters the block over one or the other of the branchtracks of the turn-out. In other words, a car entering the block alongthe trolley 5 will actuate the signal system in just the same way that acar entering a block along the trolley 4 will. Similarly, a car leavinga block along the trolley 6 restores the signal in just the same waythat a car leaving the block along the trolley 7 does. I accomplish thisresult by connecting the cont-actors 24 and 25 at the branch 2 inparallel. and also connecting the contactors 26 and 27 at the branch 3in parallel. The contactor 25 has the swinging contact member 300adapted to engage the two contacts 338 and 340, respectively, and thecontact 338 is connected to the contact 33 by the wire 212, and thecontact 340 is connected to the contact 4 by the wire 213. Similarly,the two contacts 331 and 332 of the contactor 27 are connected to thecontacts 134 and 135 of the contactor 26. By thus connecting thesecontactors in parallel, it makes no difference which branch of theturn-out the trolley is on.

In block signal systems of the counting-in and countingout variety, itis desirable to provide means whereby after a predetermined number ofcars have entered the block and are occupying the block, the counting-indevice shall be rendered inoperative. so that no additional cars can becounted into the block, while it is still occupied by this predeterminednumber. In the block signal system herein illustrated, I accomplish thisend by providing means whereby the count ing into the block of the lastcar of the predetermined number Will open the circuit controlling thesignal-setting magnet 18 and will hold said circuit open so long as thepredetermined number of cars are in the block. This makes it impossiblefor any additional cars to be counted into the block While thepredetermined number of cars are occupying the block. This isaccomplished by means of the contact pawl 38. As each car is countedinto the block the counting-in wheel 15 is advanced one step relative tothe counting-out wheel. 17, and when the predetermined number of carshave entered the block, the counting-in wheel 15 will be rotated to sucha position that the tail 161 of the contact pawl 38 will be engaged bythe roll 21 thereby rocking said pawl about its pivot and lifting itfrom the contact 162. This opens the circuit of the magnet 18. Thecontact pawl will remain in this position so long as the predeterminednumber of cars remain in the block, but when one of the cars has beencounted out of the block, the forward movement of the counting-out Wheel17 will remove the roll 21 from the tail 161 of the pawl 38, thusallowing the pawl to drop back onto the contact 162, therebyrestablishing the circuit through the signal-setting magnet 18.

I have also provided means whereby when the last one of thepredetermined number of cars has entered the block, both the signals 80and the signals 10 and 11 will all give a stop indication. It will beremembered that normally whenever the block is occupied by a car or anynumber of cars less than the predetermined number. the signal 80 at theentering end of the block gives a yellow light or a proceed with cautionindication, while the other signals at the entering end of the blockgive a red or stop indication. The yellow or proceed with cautionindication of the signal 80 at the entering end of the block indicatesto a car that it may proceed into the block cautiously, although theblock is occupied by one or more cars proceeding in the same direction.When the last car of the predetermined number of cars enters the block,all of the signals display the red light, thus giving the stopindication, which indicates that no car is to enter the block fromeither end. I accomplish this herein by the following means:

The shaft 16 of the counting-in and counting-out device has slidablymounted thereon a disk 171 which is provided with a finger 172 extendingthrough the counting-in wheel 15 adjacent the tail 161 of the contactpawl 38 so that when the last car of the predetermined number hasentered the block, the roll 21 will not only engage the tail 161 of thecontact pawl 38, but will also engage the beveled end of the finger 172,thus moving the plate 171 longitudinally of the shaft 16. When thisplate is thus moved longitudinally, it engages a pivoted contact member173 which is insulated from said plate and which normally closescontacts 17% in the wire 78 leading to the yellow lamp T9 of the signal80 and moves said contact member against the contacts 175 therebyclosing a shunt circuit 176 which connects at one end with the feedthrough the wire 68 and at the other end connects with the wire 102leading to the red light 85 of signal 80. The opening of the contacts174 in the circuit of the yellow lamp 79 and the closing of the contacts175 cuts the yellow lamp 79 out and causes the red lamp 85 to belighted. When this condition exists all of the signals will show the redlight or stop indication and they will maintain such indication so longas the predetermined number of cars remain in the block. As soon as oneof the cars passes out from the block at either end the consequentforward movement of the signalrestoring wheel 17 will carry the roll 21off from the pin 172 thereby allowing the contact member 17 3 to resumeits normal position in engagement with the contacts 174. This will causethe yellow lamp 79 of the signal 80 at the entering end of the block tobe lighted and the red lamp 85 to be extinguished, thus indicating to acar approaching from the left end that it is permissible for it to enterthe block. So long as the signals give the red or stop indi cation it isnot permissible for any car to enter the block from either end.

It sometimes happens that when a block is occupied by a car proceedin inone direction therethrough that anot er car approaches said block fromthe opposite direction, and it is desirable that the second car shouldproceed into the block over one branch of the turn-out past the signalswhich are set against it, and then should leave from the same end of theblock over the other branch of the turn-out before the first-mentionedcar has left the block. For instance, if the block were half a mile orso long and the first-mentioned car had just entered the block, thesecond car which did not desire to go through the block but merelydesired to pass around the turn-out at the end of the block. could saveconsiderable time by proceeding into the block past the signal setagainst it by the first car and then turn around the turn-out and passout of the block from the same end without waiting for the first car.

My signal device is so constructed that when a car proceeds into a blockwhile the signals 80 and 10 or 11 are both showing redthus indicatingthat the block is occupied by another car proceeding in the oppositedirection, said car will be counted into the block, and when the carpasses out of the block from the same end over the other branch of theturn-out, it will be counted out of the block again, thus restoring thesignal to the same condition that it was before said car entered theblock. It will be remembered that when a car passes into an empty blockor one which is occupied by a car going in the same direction, thesignal 10 or 11 will change from the red to the green or the yellowindication when said car is counted into the block, Under the conditionsabove stated, however, where a car enters the block in defiance ofsignals 80 and 10 or 11 set against it, the counting of the car into theblock will cause a green or a yellow indication at the signal 10 or 11in addition to the red indication, thus in dicating to the car that ithas been counted into the block, but also indicating that the block isoccupied by a car coming in the opposite direction. When. therefore, thesignal 80 at either end of the block is overrun and a car is countedinto the block, this indication will be given at the signal 10 or 11without, however, eliminating the stop indication of said signal.Moreover, my signal is so constructed that if a car does thus purposelyoverrun the signal 80 for the purpose of passing around the turn-out andin doing so accidentally fails to be registered into the block becauseof improper operation of the contactor or from any other cause, thenwhen said car backs out of the block, it will also fail to be countedout of the block so that the signal system will be left in a safecondition. These results are secured as follows:

When a car has entered the block from the right-hand end both of therelays or magnets 560 are energized; hen a car coming from the leftpasses the cont actor 24. the signal-setting magnet 18 at the left-handend of the block will be energized, as above rle scribed, thus steppingthe signal-setting wheel forward one step. This will bring the contactlever 23 into its intermediate position and the light-changing contact88 into its extreme position to the right so as to close all three pairsof contacts 89, 90 and 91. This operation results in opening the circuit60 and closing the branch circuit 92, and as a result the signal-settingline circuit 8 will be restored to its initial condition, in which thepotential at the points 86 at each end are the same. This will cause thedcnergization of both relays 560, thus allowing their armatures to fall.The closing of the contacts 91 will close the circuit through the relay72 at the left-hand end of the block, thus causing it to lift itsarmaturcs. and the closing of the contacts 90 will close the circuitthrough the green light 12 of the signal 10,

as seen in Fig. 9. Under these conditions, both the red lamp 14 and thegreen lamp 12 of signal 10 will be lighted. The circuit of the greenlamp will be feed wire 57, Wire 63, resistance 67, wire 68, contacts 69which are now closed by the armature of the deenergized relay 560, wire70, contacts 174 which are now closed by the elevated armature 76 of therelay 72, wire 175 to the wire 102 which leads to the red lamp 85 ofsignal 80, wire 81, contacts 103 which are now closed by the raisedarmature 104, wire 105, contacts 90, wire 106 to the green light 12 ofsignal 10 and thence to the ground. The red light 14 is maintainedburning through the following circuit:

Feed wire 57, wire 63, resistance 67, wire 176, contacts 177 which arenow closed by the lowered armature 148, wire 178, contacts 179 which areclosed by the raised armature 180 of the signal-setting magnet 18, andwire 84 to the red light 14.

As the car which has passed the signal moves forward onto the singletrack and passes the contactor 28 going to the right, the operation ofsaid oontactor will energize the unlocking magnet 55, thus unlocking thearmatures of the signal-setting magnet 18 (see Fig. 10). When this carstarts to back out of the block and again actuates the contactor 28, themagnet 121 will be energized, thus establishing the circuit to thesignalrestoring magnet 19 so that when the car backs out over the branchtrolley 5 and actuates the contactor 25, it will be properly counted outfrom the block. When the contactor 28 is actuated by the car moving tothe right, the engagement of the contact arm 111 thereof with thecontact 112 has no result because the circuit connected to said contact112 is open at the contacts 115.. When the contact arm of the contactor28 engages the contact 113, however, a circuit will be closed throughwire 123, unlocking magnet 55, wire 124, magnet 121, wire 122, contacts136 to the ground, and as this circuit includes only a part of theresistance 120 it will be a heavy circuit. The current of this circuitwill actuate the unlocking magnet 55, but will not actuate the heavyarmature 137 of the magnet 121 because when the magnet 121 is energizedwith the relativelyheavy current at the time that both armatures aredown, the magnet attraction between the tail of the heavy armature 137and the lock 238 is suflicient to prevent the auxiliary armature 138from actuating the lock and thus unlocking the main armature, this beingdue to the fact that the small armature is saturated by arelatively-light current.

The result of the car moving under the contactor 28 to the right,therefore, is merely to unlo k the armatures of the signal-settingmagnet 18. When the car moves over the contactor 28 in backing out ofthe block, the engagement of the contact arm 111 with the contact 112will close the circuit through the magnet 121 carrying a light current,thereby attracting the armature 138, and immediately thereafter thecircuit will be closed through the contact 113 which will deliver aheavy current to said magnet, thus raising the main armature 137. Thefirst circuit leading from the contact 112 comprises the wire 114,contacts 115 which are now closed by the lowered armature 116 of thesignalsetting magnet 18, wire 119, resistance 120, magnet 121, wire 122,contacts 136 to the ground. This circuit includes all of the resistance120. The engagement of the contact arm 111 of the contactor 28 with thecontact 113 closes the secondary circuit through the magnet 121comprising the wire 123, magnet 55, wire 124 and a part only of theresistance 120, magnet 121, wire 12'). and contacts 136. This results inraising the magnet armature 137 to close the contacts 139, saidarmature. becoming locked automatically by the gravity lock 140. As thecar backs off under the contactor 25, it will close first a primary andthen a secondary circuit through the count ing-out magnet 19, thereby tocount the ear out of the block. The primary circuit by which the magnet19 is energized with the light current consists of the contact 338, wire212, wire 35, part of resistance 36, wire 144, contacts 139 which arenow closed by the raised armature 137, wire 145, the countingout magnet19, wire 150 to the ground through the contacts 151 which are closed bythe raised armature 250 of the relay or magnet 7 2. This circuitprovides the light current impulse for the magnet 19 which is suffieientto raise the auxiliary armature 251, thus unlocking the main armature152. The secondary circuit is through the contact 340, wire 213, wire42, unlocking magnet 43, wire 44, through a portion only of theresistance 36. wire 144, contacts 139, wire 14-5, magnet 19, wire 150 tothe ground through the contacts 151. The counting-out magnet 19 will.thus be properly energized and the car will be counted out of the block,thus leaving the signals in the same condition that they were before thesignal 80 was overrun.

If there are two cars which overrun the signal 80 in succession. thenthe same results will follow except that the second car which overrunsthe signal 80 before the first car has backed out of the block will getboth a red and a yellow light at the signal 10 instead of a red and agreen light. This is accomplished because when the second ,car passesthe eontactor 24 the signal-setting magnet 18 will be stepped forward asecond step. thus carrying the contact arm 23 into its lowered position,closing the contacts 126 and allowing the light-changing contact 88 toswing into its intern'iediate position which will open the contacts 90.The result of this change is to close the circuit to the yellow lamp 13instead of to the green lamp 12, as above described and as seen in Fig.11.

As stated above, my signal system is so constructed that if a caroverrunning the signal 80 at either end of the block should accidentallyfail to actuate the contactor and thereby be registered into the block,said car in backing out of the block over said contactor will notoperate the countingout mechanism to count a car out of the block. If itbe assumed that a car has ontered the block from the left-hand end, thenall the magnets at the right-hand end of the block will be denergizedexcept the magnet 560, as shown at the right-hand end of Fig. 6. If nowa second car accidentally overruns the signal 80 at the right-hand endof the block, but in doing so fails to operate the contactor 27, then,of course, no change will occur in the various magnets at the righthandend of the block and they will all still be deiinergizcd except themagnet 560. Now if said second car backs out of the block under thecontactor 27 and in doing so actuates said contactor, the counting-outmechanism will not be operated, so that there is no possibility that inbacking out of the block the second car will count the first car out ofthe block. When said second car docs thus back out of the block and theswinging arm of the contactor engages the contact 331, no circuit can beestablished through the counting-out magnet 19 because the groundconnection 150 for said magnet is open at the contacts 151. A circuit,how ever, will be established through wire 35, resistance 36, and wire37 and counting-in magnet 18, which circuit contains all of theresistance 36 and thus energizes said magnet 18 with a light current. Asecond circuit will immediately be established through contact 332 wire42, unlocking magnet 43, wire 44, a part of resistance 36. wire 37 tothe counting-in magnet 18. Said countingin magnet will. therefore, beenergized to count the car into the block. While, of course. this doesnot accurately indicate What has transpired, yet it is an error on thesafe side because it would be dangerous to count a car out of the blockwhile said car was still in the block.

My signal system is also so constructed that if a car accidentallyoverruns a signal 80, as above described, and in doing so becomescounted into the block and then backs out of the block without actuatingthe contactor 28 or 29, said car will be counted out of the block. If itbe assumed that a car has entered the block from the left-hand end, thenall the magnets at the right-hand end of the block will be deenergizedexcept the magnet 560, as shown at the right-hand end,

Fig. 6. It now a second car accidentally overruns the signal 80 at theright-hand end of the block and actuates the contactor 27, then thesignal-setting magnet 18 will be energized thereby stepping thecounting-in wheel 15 forward and counting the car into the block, asabove described. This opera tion results in deenergizing the magnet 560at the right-hand end of the block and closing the circuit through themagnet 72 so that the armatures for the magnets 18 and 72 willbe raisedwhile those for the magnet 560 will be down. When now said car backs outof the block and operates the contactor 27, a preliminary circuit willbe established through contact 331, wire 35, part of resistance 36, wire144, to contacts 341, which are now closed by the raised armature 77 ofmagnet 18, wire 342 to contacts 343 which are now closed by the raisedarmature 344 of the magnet .72, wire 345 to contacts 346 which are nowclosed by the lowered armature 347 of magnet 560, wire 348, Wire 146 tothe counting out magnet 19, wires 150 to ground, the contacts 151therein being closed by the raised armature 250. The closing of thiscircuit will energize the counting-out of magnet 19 with arelatively-light charge. As soon as the contact arm of contactor 27engages the upper contact 332, a secondary circuit will be establishedthrough said contact Wire 42, lock-releasing magnet 43, wire 44, portionof resistance 36, wire 144, contacts 341, Wire 342, contacts 343, wire345, contacts 346, wire 348, wire 146 to the signal-restoring magnet 19and thence to ground. This secondary circuit has less of the resistance36 therein than the prelimi' nary circuit, and said magnet will be,there fore, energized with a heavy current, thus causing it to beoperated to count the car out of the block. The counting of the car outof the block will restore the contact lever 23 to its upper position,thus opening the circuit of the magnet 72 so that the armatures thereofwill fall, and also reestablishing circuit conditions by which themagnet '560 is energized. The restoring of the contact arm 23 to itsupper position will close the circuit through the lock-releasing magnet55, thereby energizing the latter and unlocking the armature 46 of thesignal-setting magnet. This circuit is as follows: Feed 57, wire 63,wire 411, contacts 412 which are now closed by the raised contact lever23, wire 413, contacts 414 which are now closed by the raised armature116 of the magnet 18, lock-releasing magnet 55, wire 124, through aportion only of the resistance 120 to the magnet 121 and thence to theground through the contacts 136. As this circuit includes only a part ofthe resistance 120 the magnet 121 will be energized with a heavy currentand will, therefore. not be responsive, but the lock-releasing magnetwill be energized to unlock the armature 46 of the signal-setting magnet18. thus restoring the signal system to the condition it was in beforethe car overran the signal 80.

My improved signal is also so constructed that it two cars start toenter the block simultaneously at opposite ends and the two contactors24 and 27 are simultaneously actuated, both cars will get a red or stopindication at the signal 10 and if either car backs out of the block theother car will immediately get a proceed signal.

It will be further noted that the signals are properly set only when oneof the contactors on the branch trolley and the adjacent contactor onthe main trolley are actuated in succession. It will be seen that inorder to set the signal it is necessary to operate both a eontactor onthe branch trolley and the adjacent contactor on the main trolley, andalso to actuate the contactor on the branch trolley first. It will alsobe seen that in order to restore the signal it is necessary that both ofthese contactors should be ac tuated but that the contactor on the maintrolley should be actuated first. In other words in order to set thesignal by a car entering from the left-hand end of the block it isnecessary to actuate the contactor 24 or 25 first and subsequently toactuate the contactor 28, ,while to restore the signal from said end ofthe block it is necessary to actuate the contactor 28 first and then toactuate either the contactor 24 or 25. My signal device, therefore,comprises two contactors at each end of the block. each of which closestwo circuits in succession when it is actuated, but which are soconnected to the signal system that the contactors must be operated inone sequence in order to set the signal and in the reverse sequence inorder to restore the signal. In other words the cont-actors which areshown in my signal device are arranged to close and open one circuit andthen close another circuit within a predetermined time interval, and thesignal mechanism is so constructed that unless one circuit after beingclosed is broken and the other circuit closed within the predeterminedtime interval, the device will not operate. In Fig. 13 I have shown alittle different construction adapted for actuating the signal-settingor signal-restoring magnets, but which requires that a circuit should bebroken and another circuit closed in immediate sequence in order tooperate the deicc. In. this figure, I have shown the counting-in wheel15 which is actuated by the pawl 450. This pawl constitutes the armatureof a signahsetting magnet 451 which is connected to the ground at 452and which is also connected by a wire 453 to the upper contact 455 of acontactor, such as above described. The lower contact 456 of thiscontactor connects by wire 457 to a controlling magnet 458 which is alsoconnected to the ground. This controlling magnet 458 has an armature 459provided with a locking finger 460 which is adapted to move from thefull line position Fig. 13 to the dotted line position. When the magnet458 is energized, the locking finger 460 will be in the full lineposition, but when the magnet 458 is deiinergized, said finger will beswung into the dotted line position under the influence of the spring461. The pawl 450 is provided with two stop projections 462 and 463 thatare situated beneath the end of the locking finger 460 when it occupieseither the full or the dotted line position. Said pawl 450 is providedintermediate of these projections with adepressed portion 464. Thecontact is so constructed that normally the swinging arm 465 of thecontactor will have engagement with the contact 456 so that under normalconditions the magnet 458 is energized and the locking arm 460 will beheld in its full line position. As a car passes under the contactor, theswinging arm 465 is moved upwardly thereby breaking the circuit of themagnet 458 and immediately thereafter engaging the contact 455, thuscompleting the circuit through the magnet 4.51. As soon as the circuit457 is broken, the magnet 458 will be deenergized and the locking finger460 will swing from its full toward its dotted line position, but beforethe finger can complete its swinging movement the circuit 453 leading tomagnet 451 is closed at contact 455 so that said magnet will beenergized, thus moving the pawl 450 upwardly. This movement is permittedonly while the locking arm 460 is in its intermediate position over thedepressed portion 464, and, therefore, the signal-setting magnet cannotbe operated except when the circuit. 457 is broken and the circuit 453is closed inime diately thereafter and within a predetermined timeinterval. While this mechanism is slightly different from thatillustrated in F l and 2, yet it accomplishes the same object.

In order that the signal may properly operate it is essential that whenthe block is unoccupied, the potential at the points 86 at each end ofthe block should be the same so that bot-h magnets 560 will bedcenergized. Sometimes the traflic conditions are such that the voltageat one end of the block will be less than at the other, and if thisdifference is a sutlicient amount, it might happen that a current wouldbe established from one end to the other of the block through thesignal-setting wire, thus energizing the magnets 560 even though no carwas in the block. To prevent this from happening I employ a currentregulator at each end of the block for automatically varying thereblock. These current regulators each C0111- prise a solenoid 58, thecore of which carries a contact 501 that is adapted to engage a.plurality of contacts 502, 503 and 504 that are connected to differentpoints of the resistance 56. The contact 501 is connected by a wire 505to the feed end of the resistance. These current-regulating solenoids ormagnets 58 are in the normally-closed local circuit leading from thetrolley to the ground through the contacts 69 and are, therefore,normally energized when the block is unoccupied. \Vhen the voltage isnormal the cores of the magnet will be held in their elevated position,but if the voltage at either end of the block drops for any reason, thecore of the corresponding solenoid will drop into contact with one oranother of the contacts 502, 503, 504, depending upon the degree of dropin the voltage. As the contact 501 comes into engagement with thecontacts 502, 503, 504, more or less of the resistance 56 will be cutout, and by this means, approximately the same voltage may be maintainedat the two points 86.

While I prefer to use three-light signals for the signals 10 or 11, yetthe system would operate if these signals were two-light signals similarto the signals 80. The only difference would be that it signals 10 and11 were two-light signals there would be no way of indicating to themotorman of a car entering the block whether his car was the first oneto enter the block or whether there was another car ahead of him in theblock.

In the above-described invention, the in dications which are given bythe signal are in the nature of fixed indications, and by this term Imean an indication which is unchanging while it is being displayed.Hence when the motorman approaches the signal the fixed or unchangingindication displayed by the signal indicates to the motorman how toproceed. The device is also constructed so that each fixed indicationhas a distinctive meaning.

I claim:

1. In a block signal system. the combination with a signal guarding ablock, of signal-actuating mechanism including a signalactuating magnetwhich is responsive only when it is energized a plurality of times in apredetermined time interval. and means thus to energize said magnet.

2. In a block signal system, the combination with a signal guarding ablock. of signal-actuating mechanism including a signalactuating magnetwhich is responsive only when it is energized a plurality of times in apredetermined time interval, and means actuated by a car entering theblock thus to energize said magnet.

3. In a block signal system. the combination with a signal guarding ablock, of signail-actuating mechanism including a signalactuating magnetwhich is responsive only when it is energized a plurality of times bycurrents of different value in a predetermined sequence, and means thusto energize said magnet.

4. In a block signal system, the combination with a signal guarding ablock, of signal-actuating mechanism including a signalactuating magnetwhich is responsive only when it is energized a plurality of times bycurrents of different value in a predetermined sequence, and meansoperated by a car entering the block thus to energize said magnet.

5. In a block signal system, the combination with a signal guarding ablock. of signal-actuating mechanism including a signal-actuating magnetwhich is responsive only when it is energized twice within apredetermined time interval, and means thus to energize said magnet.

6. In a block signal system, the combination with a signal guarding ablock, of signal-actuating mechanism including a signal-actuating magnetwhich is responsive only when it is energized twice within apredetermined time interval, and means operated by a car entering theblock thus to energize said magnet.

7. In a block signal. system, the combination with a signal guarding ablock, of signal-actuating mechanism including a signal-actuating magnetwhich is responsive only when it is energized by two currents ofdifi'erent values in predetermined sequence and means thus to energizesaid magnet.

8. In a block signal system, the combination with a signal guarding ablock, of signal-actuating mechanism including a signal-actuating magnetwhich is responsive only when it is energized by two currents ofdifferent values in predetermined sequence, and means actuated by a carentering the block to thus energize said magnet.

9. In a block signal system, the combina tion with. a signal guarding ablock, of signal-actuating mechanism including a signalactuating magnetwhich is responsive only when it is energized by two currents ofdifferent values in predetermined Manicure and within a predeterminedtime inter al. and means thus to energize said magnet.

10. In a block signal system, the combination with a signal guarding ablock. of signal-actuating mechanism including a signalactuating magnetwhich is responsive only when it is energized by two currents of dif'ferent values in predetermined sequence and within a predetermined timeinterval. and means actuated by a car entering the bled; thus toenergize said magnet.

11. In a block signal system. the combination with a block, of a signalcontrolling trafiio into said block, a signal-actuating reassemmechanismincluding a signal actuating magnet which is responsive only when it isenergized first by a relatively light current and then by a relativelyheavy current, and means thus to energize said magnet.

12. In a block signal system, the combine tion with a block, of a signalcontrolling traffic into said block, a signal-actuating mechanismincluding a signalactuating magnet which is responsive only when it isenergized first by a relatively light current and then by a relativelyheavy current, and means actuated by a car entering the block thus toenergize said magnet.

13. In a block signal system, the combination with a block, of a signalcontrolling trafiic into said block, a signal-actuating mechanismincluding a signalactuating magnet which is responsive only when it isenergized first by a relatively light current and then by a relativelyheavy current in a predetermined time interval, and means thus toenergize said magnet.

14. In a block signal system, the combination with a block, of a signalcontrolling traflic into said block, a signal-actuating mechanismincluding a signal actuating magnet which is responsive only when it isenergized first by a relatively low current and then by a relativelyheavy current in a predetermined time interval, and means actuated by acar entering the block thus to energize said magnet.

15. In a block signal system, the combina tion with a signal at each endof the block, of a signal-setting magnet, a signal-restoring magnet,each of said magnets being responsive only when it is energized a plurality of times in a predetermined time interval, means actuated by acar entering the block to thus energize the signal-setting magnetthereby to set the signal, and means actuated by the car leaving theblock to actuate the signal-restoring magnet thereby to restore thesignal.

16. In a block signal systen'uthe combination with a signal at each endof the block, of a signal-setting magnet, a signal-restoring magnet,each of said magnets being responsive only when it is energ'zed' aplurality of times by currents of di erent value in predeterminedsequence, means actuated by a car entering the block to thus energizethe signal-setting magnet thereby to set the signal, means actuated bythe car leaving the block to thus energize the signal restoring magnetthereby to restore the signal.

1 In a block signal system, the combina tion with a signal at each endof the block,

of a signal-setting magnet, a signal-raster ing magnet, each of saidmagnets being re sponsive only when it is energized a plurality of timesby currents of different values in a predetermined sequence and within"a predetermined time interval, means actuated by a car entering theblock thus to energize the signal-setting magnet thereby to set thesignals, and means actuated by the car leaving the block thus toenergize the signal-restoring magnet thereby to restore the signal.

18. In a block signal system, the combination with a signal at each endof the block, of a signal-setting magnet, a signal-restoring magnet,each of which is responsive only when it is energized first by arelatively-light and then by a relatively heavy current, means actuatedby a car entering the block thus to energize the signal-setting magnetthereby to set the signals, and means actuated by a car leaving theblock thus to energiz e the signal-restoring magnet thereby to restorethe signal.

19. In a block signal system, the combination with a signal at each endof the block, of a signal-setting magnet, a signal-restoring magnet,each of which is responsive only when it is energized first by arelatively-light and then by a relatively-heavy current within apredetermined time interval, means actuated by a car entering the blockthus to energize the signal-setting magnet thereby to set the signals,and means actuated by a car leaving the block thus to energize thesignal-restoring magnet thereby to restore the signal.

20. In a block signal system, the combination with a block, of a signalguarding the block, a signal-actuating magnet having a main and anauxiliary armature, means whereby the signal is set when the mainarmature is actuated by the magnet, a lock for said main armature whichis released by movement of the auxiliary armature, and means to energizethe magnet so as to actuate the armatures successively.

21. In a block signal system, the combination with a block, of a signalguarding the block, a signal-actuating magnet having a main and anauxiliary armature, means whereby the signal is set when the mainarmature is actuated by the magnet, a lock for the main armature whichis released m0- mentarily by movement of the auxiliary ar mature, andmeans operated by a car entering the block to energize said magnets soas to actuate first the auxiliary armature thereby to release the lockand then to actuate the main armature thereby to set the signal.

'22. In a block signal system, the combination with a block, of a signalguarding the block, a signal-actuating magnet having an auxiliaryarmature which is attracted only when the magnet is energized by arelativelylight current and a main armature which is attracted only whenthe magnet is energized by a relatively-heavy current, means for lockingthe main armature from movement except when it is attracted immediatelyafter the auxiliary armature, and means actuated by a car entering theblock to energize said magnet with first a light and then a heavycurrent.

23. In. a block signal system, the combination with a block, of a signalat each end of the block, a signal-setting magnet and a signal-restoringmagnet, each of which has a main armature responsive when the magnet isenergized with a relatively-heavy current and an auxiliary armatureresponsive only when said magnet is energized with a relatively-lightcurrent, a lock for each main armature which is released momentarily bymovement of the corresponding auxiliary armature, means to set thesignals when the main armature of the signal-setting magnet is actuated,means to restore the signals when the main armature of thesignal-restoring magnet is actuated, means operated by a car enteringthe block to energize the signal-setting magnet with first arelativelylight and then a relatively-heavy current whereby the mainarmature of said magnet is unlocked and actuated, and means operated bya car leaving the block to energize the signal-restoring magnet withfirst a relatively-light and then a relatively-heavy current whereby themain armature is first locked and then actuated.

24. In a block signal system, the combination with a signal at the endof the block capable of giving a plurality of different in dications,each of which is fixed or unchanging in character and one of which is inthe nature of a stop indication, and another of which gives anindication to proceed, of a counting-in and a counting-out device bywhich cars are counted into and counted out of the block as they enterand leave the same, means to operate said device by a car approachingthe signal, and means actuated by the counting-in and counting-outdevice to cause said signal to change from one to another fixedindication thereby to indicate that said car has been counted into theblock.

25. In a block signal system, the combina tion with a signal at each endof a block normally giving a stop indication, but capable of givingunchanging proceed and unchanging proceed with caution indications, of acounting-in and counting-out device by which cars are counted into andcounted out of the block as they enter and leave said block, means tooperate said de vice by a car approaching the signal, and means actuatedby the counting-in and counting-out device to cause said signal tochange from stop indication to proceed indication if the block isunoccupied and to change from stop indication to proceed with cautionindication if the block is occupied by another car.

26. In a block signal system, the combination with a signal guarding theblock and capable of giving a plurality of fixed indications, one ofwhich is the normal indication, of a car-counting device for countingcars into and out of the block as they enter and leave the same, meansto operate said device by a car approaching the signal thereby to countsaid car into the block, and means actuated by said carcounting devicewhen a car is counted into the block to cause said signal to change fromits normal fixed indication to a different fixed indication when the caris counted into an unoccupied block and to change from its normal fixedposition to a still different fixed indication when the car is countedinto an occupied block.

27. In a block signal system, the combination with a signal guarding theblock and capable of giving a plurality of fixed indications, of acar-counting device by which cars are counted into and counted out ofthe block as they enter and leave the same, means to operate said deviceby a car approaching the signal whereby said car is counted into theblock, means actuated by said car-counting device to cause said signalto change from one to another fixed indication thereby to indicate thatsaid car has been counted into the block, and means to cause said signalto return to normal indication when the car has fully entered the block.

28. In a block signal system, the combination with a signal at each endof the block normally giving a stop indication but capable of givingproceed and caution indications, of a car-counting device by which carsare counted into and out of the block as they enter and leave the same,means to operate said device by a car approaching one of the signalswhereby said car is counted into the block, means actuated by saidcar-counting device to cause said signal to change from stop indicationto proceed indication if the block is unoccupied and to change from stopindication to caution indication if the block is occupied by anothercar, and means to cause said signal to return to normal indication whenthe car has fully entered the block.

29. In a block signal system. the combination with a block, of signalsguarding said block, signal-actuating mechanism including a car-countingdevice for counting cars into and out of the block as they enter andleave the same, two contactors at each end of the block situated to beactuated successively by a car and arranged so that the actuation of onecontactor is completed before that of the other is commenced, andconnections whereby the counting device will be actuated to count a carinto the block when the 1 contactors of one pair are operated in onesequence and to count a car out of the block when the contactors of apair are operated in another sequence.

30. In a block signal system, the combina-

